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Home » Stovetop and Oven Recipes

Caprese Pasta Salad

Published: May 28, 2020 · Modified: May 20, 2024 by Kristina Tipps · This post may contain affiliate links for which I earn a small commission.

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An easy Caprese Pasta Salad recipe makes a quick bbq side dish or an appetizer for any party. It's tossed with a simple balsamic and olive oil dressing- it's light and refreshing and loved by both kids and adults!

caprese pasta salad in a white serving bowl
Table Of Contents
  • Ingredients
  • Step-By-Step Directions
  • Serving and Storing
  • Recipe Facts
  • Recipe
  • Recipe Reviews

Caprese pasta salad is a simple, refreshing summer side or picnic dish. While it can be enjoyed all year, the best time to make fresh caprese salad is when tomatoes are in season during the spring and summer months.

When tomatoes are at their freshest and their garden-sweet aroma fills the air at the farmer's market.

As minimal in ingredients and preparation time as caprese pasta salad is, it's absolutely delicious. It looks bold and bright and tastes crisp and robust.

Ingredients

This caprese pasta salad recipe uses fresh grape tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella pearls, and bow tie pasta.

tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella on a cutting board

You can use any other pasta that you have on hand if you don't have bow ties. Short pastas are perfect for pasta salad recipes. While I love these Bel Gioioso fresh mozzarella pearls, you can also slice fresh mozzarella into little cubes.

These classic caprese ingredients are tossed with salt, black pepper, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

While balsamic vinegar is not a traditional caprese ingredient, I use it here to give this recipe a little something more. You can, however, make your caprese pasta salad without the balsamic vinegar if you'd prefer a more classic version.

Step-By-Step Directions

There are are a few ways to make it— with fresh chopped tomatoes, roasted tomatoes or lightly sauteed chopped tomatoes. Cooked tomatoes give the salad just a bit more zest.

tomatoes,mozzarella, and pasta in a white dish
pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil mixed together
  1. Boil the pasta in salted water for the time indicated on package. Drain and transfer to a serving bowl.
  2. While pasta cooks, slice the tomatoes in half and saute for 5 minutes in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, until soft. Skip this step if you prefer uncooked tomatoes.
  3. Add tomatoes and mozzarella to serving dish with pasta. Toss with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and torn basil.

Serve your delicious caprese pasta salad as an appetizer, a side dish, or a vegetarian lunch or dinner.

Enjoy!

Serving and Storing

This recipe serves 6-8 as an appetizer or side dish. As a full lunch or dinner, it will serve 4 people.

Make it ahead of time and store in the fridge overnight, with the oil, balsamic, and basil kept separate. Bring to room temperature before serving.

If storing in the fridge after the dressing is mixed in, try to enjoy within the next day or so.

Recipe Facts

What is Caprese Pasta Salad?

A traditional caprese pasta salad pairs fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil and drizzles them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Sometimes arugula is added to a caprese salad for extra zing.

Classic caprese salad recipes are fresh, delicious, and incredibly simple to prepare. I add balsamic vinegar to this recipe for a bold finishing touch.

Traditional caprese ingredients aren't reserved just for a salad, thought, You can make a chicken caprese for dinner, a grilled caprese sandwich for lunch, and even a caprese Christmas wreath for the holiday season.

What Can You Serve with Caprese Pasta Salad?

Caprese pasta salad pairs well with a simple grilled chicken or fish. Serve it along with hamburgers, turkey burgers, or lamb burgers.

Can You Make Caprese Pasta Salad Ahead of Time?

This recipe is best served within a few hours of making. Because it uses balsamic vinegar in addition to the olive oil, the vinegar penetrates the pasta and cheese the longer it sits. To some, this may make the cheese and pasta too "mushy" to enjoy later on.

If you'd like to make it ahead of time, mix the tomatoes, cheese, and pasta together. Leave the basil, oil and vinegar separate and add when ready to serve.

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to give it a star rating and let me know what you thought in the comments! And follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for more delicious recipes!

Recipe

caprese pasta salad in a white serving dish

Caprese Pasta Salad

Kristina Tipps
An easy Caprese Pasta Salad recipe that makes a quick bbq side dish or an appetizer for any party. Caprese Pasta Salad is made with pasta, fresh grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. It's tossed with a simple balsamic and olive oil dressing and sprinkled with salt and black pepper.
4.87 from 45 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 15 minutes minutes
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8
Calories 270 kcal

Ingredients

  • 12 oz short pasta
  • 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup mozzarella pearls or cubes
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves torn

Instructions
 

  • Boil the pasta in salted water for the time indicated on package. Drain and transfer to a serving bowl.
  • While pasta cooks, slice the tomatoes in half and saute for 5 minutes in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, until soft. Skip this step if you prefer uncooked tomatoes.
  • Add tomatoes and mozzarella to serving dish with pasta. Toss with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and torn basil.

Notes

Serves 8 as a side dish or appetizer. 
Serves 4 as a lunch or dinner.
Make ahead of time and store in the fridge overnight, with the oil, balsamic, and basil kept separate. Bring to room temperature before serving. Once mixed, it will keep for about 1 day in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 8ouncesCalories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 8gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 165mgPotassium: 204mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 341IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg
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Hello, I'm Kristina! I'm here to show you how to take your favorite recipes and adapt them to all your kitchen appliances!

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